Autism and me – An insight into my characteristics

To my knowledge, everybody on the Autistic spectrum struggles with different aspects. Whether that’s beginning a conversation, using public transport alone or becoming comfortable with wearing only a specific brand/item of clothing.

For example, I’m obsessed with (vegan) Doc Martens and no longer feel comfortable wearing other footwear types. My friends Etta and Ava (also on the spectrum) love vintage clothing and have a preference for Lindy Bop in particular.

Our struggles can often result in sensory overloads and feelings of discomfort whilst we struggle to process bundles of information from the world around us.

I prefer not to relate to my struggles as “symptoms”. My Autism isn’t a disease, it doesn’t require a cure.

Feelings and emotions.

People on the spectrum are often misunderstood as being unable to feel. Though, in fact, the emotions we feel can be more complex than those without Autism. I personally find it hard to find a comfortable and maintainable balance with my moods, therefore either being extremely happy or worryingly low.

I believe that people with Autism are increasingly more sensitive than those without, or at least that’s the way it’s been established in my case.

I personally struggle with understanding and expressing my emotions. I quickly become distressed and go into meltdown following the anguish I hold to be able to release my thoughts, as opposed to managing them alone. I cannot always express the times I feel down, but it’s made easier in the form of emailing.

Busy places.

People with Autism often become distressed in situations filled with lots of people, due to the sensory overloads we face. The noise can become daunting, we can quickly feel trapped, the crowds can seem overwhelming and as though there is no escape, and the anxiety levels start to run high.

Loud noises.

It’s often commented upon that I have sensitive hearing, as I regularly comment on noises I have the ability to hear whereas those around me don’t. Ie: background noise on a tv programme or the sound of my cat from a far distance. This also means that I struggle with loud noises, I dislike the sounds of hoovers and the sirens of emergency services passing by, which I know cannot be avoided.

I view this as a positive attribute. I’ll hear animals in danger and I’ll very rarely miss out on important information.

Special interests.

I become particularly engrossed in my passion and admiration for animals, which has become my area of high education study. I talk about goats (alot) to anybody who’ll listen, really and I wish to become an animal behaviourist. I absolutely adore animals, we share a special bond and and I wish for them to be involved in my every day thoughts and routine.

I love that my Autism has expanded my interest of animals and that I’ve had the ability to maintain such a special interest throughout the duration of my life.

Understanding sarcasm.

In light of recent weeks, I’ve discovered that I can only understand sarcasm if I’m the one issuing the sarcastic comment. However, if another person makes a sarcastic statement, I cannot always interpret it, meaning I quite often take things literally and become confused about the situation.